John Swinney accuses Donald Trump of 'threat of genocide' in Iran

The US president has given Tehran until 1am on Wednesday UK time to end its blockade of the strait or face obliteration.

Writing on his Truth Social platform he said: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

But Mr Trump, who has previously extended his deadline for action, said the “complete and total regime change” in Iran had resulted in a situation where “different, smarter, and less radicalised minds prevail”.

Mr Swinney was among those to call for a de-escalation in the wake of the comments.

He wrote on X: “These comments are a threat of genocide, plain and simple. The US President must not act in this way. What the world needs is the courage of diplomacy and the wisdom of de-escalation. The UK Labour Government must act now to ensure that de-escalation takes place. “

Mr Trump has said the US will destroy Iran’s bridges and power stations, saying he was “not at all” concerned that attacks on civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.

Asked whether the UK believed such attacks would breach international law, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I’m not going to comment on give a running commentary on our allies’ operations.”

The UK has granted permission for the US to use British military bases to carry out limited defensive operations, only targeting Iran’s missile sites and facilities being used to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route.

Asked whether RAF bases could be used by the US to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, the spokesman said: “Our position has not changed.”

The spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer had been clear “this isn’t our war” and “our position is very much focused on de-escalation”.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, an ally of Mr Trump, said the “upset, angry” president’s latest comments had gone “way too far”.

He said: “I am quite shocked just to hear that. That is over the top in every single way.

“Yes of course he wants to threaten – to get them to the negotiating table. But those words are… they’re way too far.”

Ahead of Mr Trump’s ultimatum expiring, the US and Israeli campaign targeted Iran’s Kharg Island, a crucial hub in the country’s oil export infrastructure.

The crisis triggered by Mr Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s strikes against Iran, and the retaliation by the regime in Tehran against states across the Middle East has caused global economic uncertainty.

Iran has imposed a selective blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to spikes in oil and gas prices as tankers have faced being confined to port or the threat of drone or missile attacks.

On Tuesday, the UK chaired a meeting of military planners from a coalition of nations examining long-term measures to secure the strait.

Military representatives from over 30 nations joined the virtual conference to explore ways to make the shipping route safe and accessible once hostilities have ended.

The UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters will arrange a further military planning conference “in due course”.

It followed a meeting of more than 40 nations last week, chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, that discussed collective action to increase pressure on Tehran.